Climate-KIC France names Venture Competition winners

Qarnot Computing has developed an electric radiator made of high-performance processors

13 September 2013

Qarnot Computing, a company that turns cloud computers into radiators, and Cybeletech, which produces crop-growth simulation software, have won the French rounds of the 2013 Climate-KIC Venture Competition.

During a judging session at the premises of Climate-KIC partner Foundation for Scientific Cooperation in Paris this week (12 September), ten start-ups were considered by an expert jury. Criteria included innovation; climate impact; strategy; business model and resources.

Qarnot Computing and Cybeletech have won Climate-KIC grants worth respectively €20.000 and €10.000, as well as a place in the European finals.

Cloud-computing radiators

Qarnot Computing offers data computing to a wide range of clients. Instead of building a large data center and a cooling plant, the start-up sends data to its network of high-tech radiators based in buildings such as homes, businesses, apartments and schools.

The company has developed an electric radiator made of high performance processors. The chips provide heat when operating, lowering the carbon footprint of both computing and heating.

The system is entirely silent, and heat produced by workload processing provides low-cost and efficient heating for buildings.

Through a thermal regulation system, processing power can be adapted according to the temperature requested by the occupants.

Qarnot Computing is led by CEO Paul Benoit, a graduate from Climate-KIC partner Ecole Poytechnique. The company has enrolled in Climate-KIC’s Acceleration Programme, and is actively working with Climate-KIC partners to implement its high-tech radiators in practice and as such is looking to develop green computing for Climate Generator.

Crop-growth simulation

Cybeletech simulates crop-growth

Cybeletech has developed simulation software to forecast the growth of plants and crops. The start-up’s algorithms enable the agricultural sector to use fertilisers more efficiently.

It also allows seed producers to project the impact of climate change, enabling them to adapt accordingly.

The start-up is led by CEO Christian Saguez, a graduate of Ecole Centrale’s mathematics department in Paris.

Cybeletech works with Climate-KIC partners to implement and further develop its forecasting models. The company is currently incubated with Climate-KIC partner Incuballiance and has enrolled into Climate-KIC’s Acceleration Programme.

Innovative ideas

“It was inspiring to see the enormous amount of potential that these start-ups have,” said Jean-Christophe Duval, who presided over the jury on behalf of Climate-KIC France, “We wish the winners every success in the European finals.”

Jury members included Frederic de Ligondes, associate professor at UVSQ, Philippe Moreau, director of INCUBAlliance, Jean-Christophe de Tauzia, director of incubator Descartes, and Manuel Silva, start-up business development manager.

European finals

Both start-ups will take part in the €40.000 European finals of Climate-KIC’s Venture Competition, which will take place in Wroclaw, Poland, on 22 October 2013.

Twelve start-up companies selected by Climate-KIC’s national and regional centres will pitch their businesses to a jury of experienced entrepreneurs, financiers and business people.

The winner of the European finals will receive a grant of € 40.000, the runner-up receives a grant of € 20.000. Both will be supported by Climate-KIC.

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